carloubateman

we are a family of 5 recently moved from caerphilly south wales to melbourne.
we have been here since late march and so far so good, everybody settled really well, kids (11yrs 9yrs & 3yrs) have settled quicker than myself, cant believe how well they have settled!
anyway good luck to all those still in the process of visa application!

logan

Look out for Shecha...she's from Newport, and I believe her pal Teach is too. Shecha's been busy nose to the grindstone recently but she'll be on here soon...can't help herself! In fact she'll cut to the chase and just check what threads I've been perusing....CAUGHT YA!!!

Stephen Jones

Hi, It all sounds good! How long did it take for all your paperwork etc. to go through? Did you use an agent?

Which part of Mellie are you in?

Steve & Lynn

Stephen Jones

Hi Steve,

Good to hear from you. How are you finding life in Melbourne? If truth be told we would really love to live on the Gold Coast (in Burleigh Heads to be specific) but financial reality decrees that I have to go where the work is - in Melbourne or Sydney.

As Lynn has relatives in Melbourne, it makes sense to start from there.

Will definitely gather us all for a beer when we arrive!

Steve (and Lynn)

Stephen Jones

Hi Tony

The thing is with Oz that as wages are lower than in the UK so is the cost of living. Although not having the direct experience of having lived in Australia we have visited and discovered this for ourselves and had this related to us by Lynn's relatives.

I know what you mean about house prices though. I am currently working in Surrey Monday to Friday and the prices there are un-believable when you come from South Wales! But of course if you sell a house there and move to Oz you are loaded! Unfortunately, the house we will have to sell is in South Wales...and we'll probably be lucky to trade its value for the same in Oz.

Have you tried looking at South Australia? The prices in Adelaide are not too bad and the State Govt. are actively seeking English-speaking immigrants.

Hope things work out for you.

Steve & Lynn

Stephen Jones

Thanks to all those who replied.

Perhaps we'll get to meet some day!

Steve & Lynn

carloubateman

we did use agents, we went to the first meeting in march 2003, and were told it would take roughly 6 months for visas to arrive (what a joke) we finally got visas late march of this year, so took a little longer than was 1st told!
we are currently living in avonsleigh, about an hour away from airport!

good luck with the application

Stephen Jones

Hi Thanks for the Good Wishes.

We are going to use Global Visas...and could possibly get the visas within a year. The giid thing for us is that there is no immediate hurry in any case as we will have children going through A-Levels and GCSEs in 2 years time and will not move until they have completed.

See you in 2007?

Steve & Lynn

shecha

Hi Steve,

We are from Wales - Newport and we now live in Bray Park - Pine Rivershire - just north of Brisbane.

Got here in March.

Where are you heading???

Shell

Stephen Jones

We would love to be on the Gold Coast in QLD. But there is more demand for my line of computing in Melbourne/Sydney - so will problably choose Melbourne as Lynn as relatives there.

We were in QLD at Easter - staying in Burleigh Heads - about an hour south of Brissie.

Steve

colinmorgan

Hi Guys,

We're from Merthyr, and arrived in Melbourne in November.

Good luck with your application.

Colin

Welshie

Hiya Steve

Myself, hubby and son (3) are off to Wollongong (South of Sydney) in January. I'm studying for a nursing degree there. Three year degree on student visa, then residency...then job done!!!

We're in Cardiff and cannot wait to leave!!! whooo hoooooooooo

Good luck....be interesting to hear how ya get on!

Rachel x

kirsty&al

Hiya Steve,

I was born and bred in Pembrokeshire, but spend all my UK working life in London. I now live on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne.

Cheers
Alistair

Stephen Jones

Hi Alistair,

From what we have heard already that sounds a nice place to live.

Thanks

Steve & Lynn

Stephen Jones

Hi Rachel,

We are having problems at the mo' - not sure we can get family sponsor/assurer anymore. My man at Global Visas is not sure I can get a visa any other way.

Steve